Tin-mining brings prosperity to Sungai Chua

My SinChew.com, 19 July 2014

Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE

Sungai Chua was well-known for its tin-mining industry. It has come into existence as early as 1807, while the first Chinese tin miners arrived here only around 1870. In end of 19th century, the rise of rubber industry had further promoted the prosperity of Sungai Chua, with most villagers engaged in rubber tapping and tin-mining activities.

Sungai Chua was having only about 50 households in early days but it has now more than 1,000 households, thanks to the development of train services. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

 

Tasik Sungai Chua is the only remaining mine lake in Sungai Chua. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

A religious tourist destination in Sungai Chua attracting many tourists particularly during weekends. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

Sungai Chua was well-known for its tin-mining industry. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

Rice purchase records during the Malayan Emergency, when the British colonial government imposed restrictions on rice purchase. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

A registration certificate during the British colonial period. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

The famous Kindersley brothers opened the Inch Kenneth Coffee Estate in 1894 and planted five acres of rubber trees in 1896, making them among the first to plant rubber in the country on a commercial scale. The brothers then founded the Inch Kenneth Kajang Rubber Plc in 1910. 

Land was allocated to residents in Kajang and Sungai Chua at that time, making them small rubber estate owners.

Resident Hung, 78, lived in an estate in Jalan Reko but was gathered and moved into Sungai Chua New Village during the Malayan Emergency in 1948. He was about 12 years old at that time.

"Although each household received a piece of land at that time, but life was very hard and the British colonial government gave villagers only RM200 of allowance to build their own houses, which was not enough to cover the construction cost of at least RM500," he recalled.

He said that most villagers were tin miners or rubber tappers in early days. Tin mining activities were very popular, but the pay was not good. It was only enough to support their families. 

"The place was sought-after when tin prices were high but after the prices plummeted, tin became worthless and we believe that there are still tin here," he added.

Hung admitted that the security in Sungai Chua was very good in the past and it would not be a problem even if they left their gates unlocked. However, they have to be careful nowadays although the order is still considered good.

Another resident Zhang Yin, 70, is also a native of Sungai Chua. His grandparents settled in Kajang since they first came to Malaya from southern China a century ago.

For Zhang Yin, although he was just a young kid when the Emergency was imposed by the British colonial government, he can still remember that everyone was particularly cautious during that "troubled times".

Due to financial difficulties, he only joined a tuition class and started to tap rubber at young age.

He said that although some houses in Sungai Chua are still in their original appearances, most have been reconstructed. 

Village head Xie Wei Xian, 30, said that Sungai Chua is 600 acres in size and the number of residents are growing. With the flourishing industry and developing housing sector, Sungai Chua has at least 10,000 of residents nowadays.

"Residents are mainly Chinese, with some Indians and Malays. However, many owners now also lease their houses to foreign workers, causing a surge in the number of foreigners in the village," he said.

He said that although Sungai Chua has been gradually urbanised, the interaction among residents remains tight and thus, many young people have chosen to stay in the village, reducing the worries of the outflow of young people.